BROOK — Summer Reading for the Brook Public Library officially started on June 1, 2020. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s program has gone virtual for all ages. The library has subscribed to a program called Beanstack which allows users access via both a webpage and a mobile app.

Though I was probably only seven or eight years old the first time I went on a “fishing trip” I still have many vivid memories of that experience. My grandparents loaded me in the backseat of their car and off we went to the north woods of Wisconsin. Our destination was a lonely lake, magica…

Recently, President Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at increasing U.S. seafood markets. It’s a part of his “America First” ideology, since a large portion of the fish, shrimp and shellfish sold in the USA are imported by foreign companies. The plan addresses doing this in two ways and …

It’s Safe Boating week. I knew it was coming so in the weeks leading up to this I looked for a recent event which could serve as a real life anecdote showing how boaters can easily adopt certain practices and have a safe, enjoyable day on the water.

CROWN POINT, Ind., June 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, on the commemoration of D-Day, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) virtually joined The Friends of the Veterans Memorial Parkway, Inc. (FVMP), along with the Town of Hebron, Governor Eric Holcomb and representatives from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to celebrate the first mile of the Veterans Memorial Trail, which will connect Indiana to the national cross-country Great American Rail-Trail.

FORT WAYNE, Ind., June 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Steel Dynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ/GS: STLD) announced today that it has consummated the sale of $400 million aggregate principal amount of 2.400% Notes due 2025 ("2025 Notes") and $500 million aggregate principal amount of 3.250% Notes due 2031 (together with the 2025 Notes, the "Notes"). The net proceeds from the Notes will be used to redeem $400 million of the company's 5.250% Senior Notes due 2023 ("2023 Notes") and $500 million of the company's 5.500% Senior Notes due 2024 ("2024 Notes").

For years, you have been dreaming about buying your first home and now you are debating taking action. Are you ready to enter the home buying market? Consider these seven signs before taking the plunge.

1. Having Job Security – Mortgage loan approvals require a steady regular income. Is your employment situation secure enough that you can commit to buying a home? Being out of work is bad enough, but being out of work with a brand new mortgage is disastrous.

2. Commitment to the Area – Generally, realtors recommend that you plan to stay in a home for a minimum of five to seven years. If your situation is still fluid, buying may not be for you. Buying a home is a long process, and you do not want to have to sell one in a rush soon after a purchase. Most of your pa...

What is the difference between a fixed-rate mortgage and an adjustable-rate mortgage? Which is a better choice for you? Watch C2 Financial Mortgage Advisor Casey Fleming explain which mortgage type is best under different circumstances.

Surprise! The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act may cause many changes in your tax situation. Instead of enjoying a tax refund this year, you may discover that you owe Uncle Sam. Even worse, you do not have the money to pay these surprise taxes. What can you do?

The good news is that you still have options but ignoring the tax bill is NOT one of them. That will only make your situation worse in the long run as you rack up fees and penalties.

Fortunately, the IRS and Treasury Department extended the tax filing and payment deadline from April 15 to July 15, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the interest of safety and to curb the spread of the coronavirus, all Taxpayer Assistance Centers have been closed temporarily and face-to-face IRS services have been suspended until further notice. See the IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief page for the latest updates and stay safe.

You have just closed on your home purchase and money is going to be tight for a while. Should you buy a home warranty to help you avoid out-of-pocket expenses or will it be a waste of money?

Before you decide if it will be worth it to you, you should understand what a home warranty really is and what it can do for you.

1. What is a Home Warranty?

A home warranty, also known as a home service contract, is a home protection plan that covers the cost of repairs or replacement of your home's critical systems and appliances when they get damaged or break down due to regular wear and tear. Many home warranty plans will typically cover:

Plumbing

Electrical

Major appliances, such as refrigerators, microwaves, washers, and dryers

Congratulations! You have saved for your child's education using a state 529 plan and built up a decent nest egg to send him or her off to school or college with minimal financial worries. Once a choice of school is made, you can apply the 529 funds toward the educational costs — but beware of these mistakes that parents make when first withdrawing from 529 plans.

Assuming the Process is Automatic – People are so used to the automated aspects of financial services that they expect 529 accounts to work in the same way. In the case of a 529 plan, you must request that the funds be withdrawn and direct them accordingly. Check with your 529 plan to verify the options. Typically, you can direct the funds to the school, beneficiary (student), or to the owner (parents). In all cases, you must initiate the withdrawal.

Michigan voters in November 2018 passed a ballot measure that legalized cannabis for recreational use, making the Great Lakes State the first in the Midwest to do so. The state’s retail cannabis market opened in late 2019 and within the first two weeks yielded $3.1 million in sales. By Jan. 2, 2020, that had reached $6.5 million.

Sorting through all the latest health fads, trends and research-based health information can be as stressful and overwhelming as shopping for a new car. You want to avoid getting swindled into something that isn’t right for you, and you want to ensure that what you’re investing in actually works and provides the biggest bang for your buck.

Sustaining a twisted ankle, waking up with body aches and a fever or enduring a respiratory infection that makes it difficult to breath may all cause someone to question if they should get checked out by a doctor; and, if so, where should they go?

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Lakers made a strong statement about their championship hopes in early March when they defeated two of the NBA's top teams, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers. Those raised expectations for LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the team of winning the franchise's 17th title will continue after a long break. On Friday, the NBA Players Association voted to ...

Brazil is limiting the amount of data it publishes about COVID-19 cases and deaths as the government of President Jair Bolsonaro grows uncomfortable with the country's status as a global hot spot for the pandemic. The nation reported on Saturday 27,075 new cases and 904 deaths from the coronavirus during the past 24 hours, while omitting consolidated numbers. The government has stopped ...

ATLANTA - Rallies for justice extended outside downtown Atlanta on Saturday, where events were held throughout the metro area, including in Cobb, Forsyth, Fayette and Gwinnett counties, and had thousands of participants. The rallies - organized to protest recent killings including George Floyd in Minneapolis - extended to a ninth day in Atlanta. An 8 p.m. curfew originally in place in the city ...

WASHINGTON - At times, it seemed almost all of the nation's capital came out to protest racism and police brutality on Saturday. Tens of thousands of people converged on the newly - and officially - named Black Lives Matter Plaza smack dab in front of the White House, which now resembles a fortress surrounded by high fences and concrete barriers, to decry the police killing of George Floyd in ...